Leah's First Airplane Trip!

Last week, Leah and I went on a mini-vacation down to Florida. We went to visit my friend Erin and her family. I figured since I was on maternity leave, it would be a good time to go on a vacation and what better place than Florida in the middle of summer? Okay, maybe FL isn't the best place to head in June, but that is where Erin is, so that is where we went!

It was Leah's first flight, and she was amazing. She mainly slept, but woke up for a little while to eat and look around. She was so curious and interested in everything in the airplane. She was really interested when we went into the bathroom to change her diaper. She was looking all around with huge eyes, it was very funny. After checking out the plane and the bathroom, she fell back asleep. Good girl!

Leah hanging out on the plane. We had a whole row to ourselves!
She was so interested in what was going on in the plane.
Mama and Leah on the plane

We were there from Tuesday to Friday. Erin has a one year old daughter, Reagan, so the four of us made a good team while we checked out Orlando. We went to an indoor play place, had lunches at Five Guys Burgers and Tijuana Flats (both AMAZING!!), checked out IKEA (my first time!! It was fantastic!!), went walking with her mom groups and went to her girl's night. And most important, we talked non-stop. One would think that talking non-stop for three plus days would lead us to run out of things to talk about, but that was definitely not the case. Almost as soon as we left to go through security in the airport, I thought of about 10 things I had meant to tell Erin, but forgot! I guess that is what more than 20 years of friendship will get you! It was a great visit and I feel so lucky to have such an amazing friend!!!

Leah sitting in the bouncer. I thought that she looked like an old man with a t-shirt and suspenders on!
Reagan, saluting me? No, actually she was waving and I just caught her hand in a funny place when I took the picture. She loved bouncing on this zebra!!
She also loved snagging Leah's burp cloths and playing peekaboo.
Leah and Reagan - they were both so interested in each other. Leah always had her eye on Reagan, and Reagan learned a new word, baby, while we were there.

Polish Festival and Zoo

When all of the menfolk were up at the cottage for Men's Weekend, the rest of us (Mama, Cam, Leah, Nana and Gina) had to find something to entertain ourselves. On Friday night, we decided to go to the Polish Festival downtown. We had great food (especially the dessert), did some dancing to polka music, and enjoyed some crafts. It was a fun evening.

Our dinner table
Cameron not wanting to eat a bite of kielbasa. He was just doing it for the picture though, he actually ate a ton of kielbasa and other Polish food.
They had crafts for the kids, so Cam made a bracelet.
He was very proud of it when he finished.
Here is a video of Cameron and Nana dancing to polka music. Leah liked the music too - whenever it played, she quieted down.


The next day we decided to go to the zoo. We have a membership so we like to go whenever we can. Cameron really enjoys it, especially the elephants. This time, we got to see a couple of shows. First we saw a demonstration by a guinea hog - it was a little black pig that could do tricks like sit, high five, recycling and dunking a basketball.

We went to see the penguins. I love this picture because it looks like the penguin is kissing Cam!
Cam and Leah at the penguin exhibit.
Gina and a penguin
Leah and Cam, my little penguins!
There are tons of penguins in the habitat.
The penguins were very active, swimming all over their pool. Cameron was running back and forth chasing the penguins around the tank window. It was so cute. Here is a short video of Cam chasing one of the penguins.


Next, we saw an elephant show. The male elephant, Indy, did a bunch of tricks. He sat down, lay down, kneeled and stood up on his hind legs. It was pretty impressive!
After the show, they brought out another elephant, Siri, that everyone could touch. We thought Cameron would be ecstatic to get to pet the elephant, but he was actually kind of afraid. I guess maybe the elephant was a lot bigger than he expected it to be! So Nana touched the elephant and Cam just shied away from it.
Gina touched the elephant too.
The red pandas were out and being super cute. I have never seen them do anything but sleep, so it was very exciting. They were adorable!
Two of the peacocks had their tails all the way open. They were walking around their cage, showing off for the peahen. They were so beautiful!
After the zoo, we went to lunch at Coleman's Irish Pub. Cam liked the leprechaun-sized telephone booth outside the restaurant.
Leah liked snuggling with Nana.

Overnight in Rochester

The first weekend in June, we went on our first overnight trip as a family of four. We went to Rochester (which, coincidentally, was also Cam's first overnight trip) for a birthday party for Jason and Nicholas. We got to see most everyone in Rochester and everyone got to meet Leah. Cam had a blast playing with his cousins and spending time with everyone.

Omi and Leah
Cameron and Daddy swimming in the pool. Cam actually swam across the pool by himself, using a noodle and his bubble. Unfortunately, Mama was not quick enough with the camera so there aren't any pictures of it!
Cameron and one of the neighbors had a great time chalking on the sidewalk. Cam was COVERED in chalk by the end of the night and needed a major bath when we got back to Omi's.
Cam playing with Jason and Amanda.
Jason and Leah
Amanda and Leah
Ben and Leah
Michael and Leah
Aunt Linda and Leah
Joe and Leah
Uncle Randy and Leah
Nicholas and Leah
When we stayed in Rochester for the first time with Cameron, he loved looking at himself in the mirror on the dresser. Of course we had to have Leah check herself out too! No surprise, she loved it too and was so curious about that cute little baby lying next to her.
The next day we went over to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had a great visit - Leah got some good cuddles from Great-Grandma.
Cam got to play with a ton of great toys.
Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma, Cameron and Leah

Random Cameron and Leah pictures

Here are a bunch of random pictures of Cameron and Leah from the past two weeks...

Mad Leah!!

Can I have the whole thing?

Watermelon mouth

Okay Daddy, enough pictures - let's eat!

Yo yo yo, what up homey?

Sleeping sweetpea

This is Leah's version of pajamas - her swaddle. We call her the little tortilla when she is all wrapped up in this yellow one.

Cute picture of my little tortilla

Mama carrying Leah in a wrap - she loves it!

Snuggly little bug

Our two wonderful, sweet and adorable kids!

Tummy time!

Leah spit up during tummy time, then face planted into it. The first thing I did was pick up the camera and take a picture, then I wiped her off. Poor kid!

Okay Mama, this is much better!

Leah is sleeping. She actually fell asleep with her arm in this funny position, and stayed like this for about 20 minutes. She must take after her father, who also sleeps with his arms in weird and very uncomfortable-looking positions.